2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Background [ edit] Celeste Johnson's biological parents are unknown. At present, Celeste Beard is incarcerated at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas, and will be eligible for parole in 2042. Eventually, Steven was made aware of Celeste trying to steal precious jewelry that belonged to his late wife, causing the millionaire to file for divorce. But, it was her supposed lover who pulled the trigger. It was like everybody was fair game in the room. Despite the fact that he pulled through the surgery, Steve would later die from an infection related to the gunshot wound. Celeste Beard's daughters Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz during an interview. DeGuerin: Is there a single journal entry in which you say, It finally happened. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Celeste, in the film, clearly sees Steven as a ticket to a better life, for her and her daughters. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Johnson's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, alleged that she had nothing to do with the shooting and that Tarlton, whom he dismissed as an unreliable witness due to documented mental instability, acted alone; Tarlton was obsessed with Johnson, who denied making sexual advances toward her. Tarlton, however, was released on parole in 2011. Now they're revealing more details about their mother, Celeste Beard, who's currently serving a mandatory life sentence at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville. The twins claimed their mother married Beard only because of his money, reports say. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Tarlton has kept to herself and has not participated in any of the shows about her story. He was amusing. Jennifer and Kristina Beard Now Where are Celeste Beard daughters Today? However, there is hope. Celeste had seemingly moved on from her husband's murder. According to Kristina, who has established a good life for herself in California as Kristina Fritz, her sister can not even work anymore and thus relies on her for financial support. Secrets of a Gold Digger Killerpremieres Sunday, June 13, at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime. All Rights Reserved. She just said that Celeste wasnt going to live happily ever after while she rotted in jail.. Her alleged lesbian lover, Tracey Tarlton, was convicted of murder after she shot Steven with a shotgun and he died three months later from complications. Although the true nature of their relationship is unknown, reports claim that the latter had romantic feelings for Celeste. Distractify is a registered trademark. Even with the reconciliation, Celeste started slipping into depression. Following her third unsuccessful marriage in 1993, Celeste and her girls moved to Texas, where she met and married widower Steven Beard, a man 35 years her senior. I truly got attached to him, she once remarked about her stepfather, adding that he treated the twins like family in addition to giving them with much-needed stability. DeGuerin had Traceys secret diary. I dont wake up one single day without feeling shame still held for what I did, she told the outlet. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "She bought herself cars and jewelry, sometimes spending between $15,000 and $30,000 on daily shopping sprees.". She loved Celeste but Celeste didnt love her, says Lofton, who says Tracey was out to punish Celeste for refusing her sexual advances. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Celeste gave an interview from prison in a 20/20 episode in November 2022, where she insisted that she did not have an affair with Tracey and was not involved in Steven Beards murder. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. However, her daughters still seem to be against her as they also appeared on the same episode and spoke about how their mother would use manipulation techniques to make them do her bidding. She had to undergo more than ten surgeries but survived.[23]. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Celeste Beard Johnson was convicted of murder, Steven Beard was murdered in October 1999, Shocking photo shows bedsheet where girl died weighing 23st - as mum JOKED about flies in squalid room, Man, 43, died after being held down by security guards at Sainsbury's, Man rushed to hospital with stab wounds after 'incident' at Hackney Central railway station as cops rush to scene, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Shes been diagnosed as having delusions, as hearing voices that arent there, as seeing things that arent there., DeGuerin made the case that Tracey had a mental condition that created rich fantasies that led to murder: The sexual relationship existed solely in Traceys mind. Four years after they were married, Steve would be shot in their home by someone wielding a 20-gauge shotgun. During her time at the facility, Celeste came across another patient, Tracey Tarlton. has managed to do just that. Although they were no longer living with her, the twins said the relationship with their mother at that point was verbally and psychologically abusive. However, he promised to adopt her then 15-year-old daughters, which he did right before their 18th birthday. Celeste's defense team used money as a motivation for Kristina and Jennifer to lie during the trial. They then even went as far as to claim that their mother would often drug Stevens food or drinks to ensure she could sneak out to Traceys at night. One of the victims regrettably died, while Jennifer apparently required 10 surgeries to heal from the wounds to her stomach, which left her short of breath. Once Steven agreed to her terms, she moved in with the millionaire and married him in February 1995. However, things begin to go wrong, when all Steven's generosity is not enough to curb Celeste's greed. That part was true. For two people who have had a dark story follow them for more than two decades, they're calm and measured while rehashing this tragic tale. Johnson married twice more before meeting Steven Beard while she was a waitress at a country club in Austin, Texas. Tarlton, on the other hand, was paroled in November 2011, after spending more than a decade behind bars, according to KENS5. I was thinking about Celeste., But Celeste denies ever giving Tracey instructions to kill her husband: I dont know why Tracey shot my husband.. KENS 5 Newsreported that Tarlton was paroled in August 2011 after spending over a decade behind bars. The transition out of prison and into freedom was tough but some folks in the city of San Antonio, Tex. There were times where we would get dropped off in a foster home and not even understand what happened., She had her moments where she seemed like she was nice, said her other daughter, Kristina Fritz. "You always hear blood is thicker than water. February 2019 article in the Austin American Statesman: Beard was later released from the hospital, but succumbed to a blood clot on January 22, 2000. . Tarlton later claimed that she shot Beard for Johnson, and in exchange for her testimony, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, ABC News notes. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. If you want to know more about Celeste and where she is today, we have got you covered. Tracey reportedly did not. Following her third unsuccessful marriage in 1993, Celeste and her girls moved to Texas, where she met and married widower Steven Beard, a man 35 years her senior. Although Celeste's daughters didn't participate in the making of Secrets of a Gold Digger Killer, Benz commends their courage in helping to bring their mother to justice.There were even times . Based on Tarlton's statement, Johnson was arrested on March 28, 2002. Growing up with Celeste was very unstable, one of Celestes twin daughters, Jennifer Beard, told ABC News. He claims Tracey would get Celeste high on alcohol or marijuana brownies, and then try to seduce her. Judie Winn Murder: Where is Patricia Tito Now? During several days of detailed testimony, the twins back up many of Tracey Tarltons claims, beginning with Celestes true feelings for Steven. She will be eligible for parole on April 1, 2042. On October 2, 1999, an intruder broke into Beards home in the early hours of the morning and fatally shot him, ABC News reports. First, some backstory: Celeste was a waitress at a Texas country club when she met her future husband, Steve Beard Jr., a retired TV executive. Not in my case. prison that you can make at home. While Celeste is now behind bars for her husband's murder, she did not shoot Beard that October night. past words has placed such an impossible distance between us and I am. A fundraiser was held in her honor. -In the 1991 film "Boyz N the Hood," actor Lloyd Avery made his acting debut as a member of What Happened to the Daughters of Celeste Beard? They both believed Tracey and their mother were more than just friends. "But you don't know what's going to happen." [6] Johnson has vehemently denied this persuasion. Therefore, since Stevens shooting undeniably affected both Jennifer and Kristina as well, they were quick to name their suspect as Celestes friend Tracey Tarlton when interviewed. ABC News "She had her moments where she seemed like she was nice," said her other daughter, Kristina Fritz. The victim. All Rights Reserved. [2] Local police tied the shooting to Tracey Tarlton, who Johnson had met at Saint Davids Pavilion, a mental health facility, after Johnson was admitted for depression. ever be able to tell you just how much I love you. Speaking to ABC News correspondent John Quiones from her jail cell, she told him that what she wanted more than anything was to speak with her daughters. Theyre the ones that talked behind his back. At the end of the trial, Celeste Beard was convicted of capital murder. But ABC's Who Do You Believe? What happened here is a simple case of a greedy, manipulative defendant who took advantage of a mentally ill woman who was in love with her, says Weitzel. display: none; Celeste Beard-Johnson is a convicted American murderer currently serving a life sentence in Texas. In 2022, ABC aired two episodes titled "What the Sisters Saw - Part 1 & 2" on the show Who Do You Believe?. [13] Tarlton received a 10-year reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Johnson, and was released on parole in August 2011 and lives in San Antonio. Source: Twitter/@whodoyouabc (video still). She and two other wounded victims survived the shooting, but another party guest died from his injuries, according to theAustin American-Statesman. Reports claim that she met her birth mother just once while her father regularly abused her, which led her to allegedly attempt suicide. And I'm sorry that I wasn't the mother that you needed me to be.. Find Out How to Stream the ABC True Crime Series 'Who Do You Believe? Who Are The Mothers And Daughters On sMothered Season 4?, Why Did Eminem Adopt His Daughters, Alaina and Steve? Beard is behind bars for the murder of her millionaire husband. The Murder of Steven Beard Steven Beard Murder: Where Is Tracey Tarlton Now? I wanted what my kids are getting., During the trial, prosecutors Gary Cobb and Allison Wetzel brought forward a piece of evidence, a recording from Kristina's phone that captured Celeste screaming and saying I hired somebody to kill Tracey.. Celeste and her daughters relocated to Texas following her third failed union in 1993, shortly after which she met and married widower Steven Beard, a man over 35-years-her senior. She even got pregnant during her first marriage and gave birth to two daughters Jennifer and Kristina before she turned 18. It was kind of hard to keep up because she was always lying about something, adds daughter Kristina. "Celeste had been changing his wounds with dirty hands," she said. "I dont wake up one single day without feeling shame still held for what I did," she told the outlet. At the time, Johnson was 32 while Beard was 69, causing many to speculate that she was only with him for the money, though several have said over the years that Beard didn't care about the gossip, PEOPLE reported in 2003. Lifetimes Secrets of a Gold Digger sheds light on this case. Celeste got life in prison for her part in the crime, while Tarlton who testified against Celeste got 10 years in prison and 12 years of probation. For other inquiries, Contact Us. But, of course, the big question is: What happened to Tracey Tarlton, the woman who admitted to shooting Steve Beard? On October 2, 1999, Tracey broke into the Beard household and shot Steven while he was sleeping. "That was my stipend," Celeste says in the Channel 4 documentary. Prior to the murder, Johnson worked as a waitress at a country club in Austin, Texas, which is where she and Beard first met. Her defense attorney pointed out at trial that she took Steven back to the hospital the day after he returned home when he started to appear unwell. I think, at the end of the day, she really just did it for herself. I would tell them that I always loved them, she said. Secrets of a Gold Digger Killeris a TV movie starringDexteralum Julie Benz as Celeste. The people who know me and know my story have been very, very supportive of me, and I would not have been able to make it without these people.. In November 2017, Jennifer was shot multiple times by her then-roommate Randall Gaston Jones at their Halloween party in Austin, Texas. Halloween,1988. The Christopher Hoefling Murder -The 2017 murder of Christopher Hoefling in Evansville, Indiana is the topic of theInvestigation Discoverydocumentary series"The Murder Tapes" Season 7 Episode Lauren Harpe From Survivor 44 -Since its debut in 2000, 'Survivor' has become one of the most popular television programs ever. A lot of people think the Bible says that money is the root of all evil, says co-prosecutor Gary Cobb. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. They hated Steven. Celeste Beards story was told in a recent episode of the popular ABC show, which features an interview with Beard and her twin daughters, who testified against their mother when she was on trial for murdering their stepfather. Celeste said "I never changed his bandages; I never did anything like they're saying." Their age gap especially raised eyebrows for Celeste's twin daughters from her first marriage, Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz. I just wish somebody could come forward and help me." The Mogul's New, How Rich Is The Island Boys Net Worth? Celeste Beard Johnson (born February 13, 1963), more commonly known as Celeste Beard, is an American convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence at the Lane Murray (SHU) . Lifetimes Girl in the Closet Where is Abuse Survivor Lauren Kavanaugh Now? Crucial to the prosecutions case of manipulation and murder is to prove Traceys claims of a sexual relationship with Celeste. She is known for starring in different movies, including 2009's On the Case with Paula Zahn and Primetime 2003. She talked to people about how she hated him. I just cant imagine any child getting up on the stand and being able to do that to their mother, says Celeste, crying. Celeste Beard Johnson, then 17 years old, and her first of many husbands, welder Craig Bratcher, gave birth to identical twins Jennifer and Kristina in the early 1980s. A fundraiser was held in her honor. 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